The Road to Alaska

The racing team is headed to Alaska! 19 dogs piled into the dog truck yesterday morning. It is a long journey, requiring several stops, but the dogs were more excited than I had ever seen them.
Instead of running them, I woke up early to feed, since they needed a couple hours to digest before we packed them into the truck. I spent five minutes with each dog, saying goodbye. There were a lot of tummy rubs, head cuddles, and low howls. They were just happy to get the extra love. They didn't know what was really happening until the dog boxes opened. As soon as Bill, Jodi, and I opened those boxes, the yard went wild. Usually, when the dogs are that enthusiastic, we hold onto their collars so they don't evade a quick harness. In this instance however, every dog went free.

With the anticipation of a trip in the dog truck and a run on snow, the dogs made a beeline for the truck. The veterans most likely knew that the truck was going to Alaska, based on the four sleds packed on top. The young dogs just fed off of that excitement. Each dog has a designated spot, based on who they get along with and their size. The veterans knew exactly where to go. They ran up to the truck and jumped up to place their front paws on their box. Then it's an easy task for us to pick up their back ends and place them into their box. They all took a second to arrange the straw into a perfect bed and then settled down.
Juno was the only one that evaded us. She came down to the truck, checked it out for a second and decided she'd rather go see Maverick. For the next half hour we tried every trick in the book, but as a lead dog, she's smart and quick. Finally, we ignored her. Obviously, we should have tried that first.
With all the dogs loaded, Bill headed out. The plan is to drive north through Wyoming and Montana and straight up into Alberta, Canada. They drove straight through the night, so within 16 hours they were able to make it to the border. Every few hours, a "dog drop" is required. The dogs are hooked to the side of the truck to do their business, get some water, and stretch out. Inevitably, dog drops usually lead to tourists taking pictures as well.
So, for the next week, Bill will be driving and making dog drops. It's a long haul to Homer, Alaska, but the benefits of training there will be worth it. Even though I can't be there with them, I can't wait to hear about how they're all doing.
I'll have to make do with my puppies and retirees. All 18 of them...

Preparations

The time has come for the racers to leave for Alaska. Bill will be taking 19 dogs to Homer, Alaska where they will begin long distance training. The week leading up to this departure has been frought with anxiety and excitement.
The dogs weren't quite sure what was up until yesterday when we packed four sleds onto the top of the dog truck. The dog truck is a massive structure containing twenty cubbies for the racers. In between the cubbies, we have packed food, meat, harnesses, rope, plastic sled runners, lead lines, ice hooks, and all manners of other gear. The amount of equipment that goes into sledding is boggling. For instance, for the past three nights, I have been wrapping booties. The dogs wear booties on their feet to prevent ice cuts and to help keep them warm. Thousands upon thousands of booties are needed, as they can quickly get torn up or wet. Therefore, I have spent countless hours packaging them into sets of four. The small details can go a long way in the Iditarod.
Along with packing, we have been training at an accelerated pace. We are going longer distances, in shorter amounts of time, and at twice a day. The dogs need to get used to running 125 miles a day, so might as well start now. Unfortunately, since we've upped the training, we've also increased the room for error.
Running the ATV a few days ago, I had a large tangle that required a lot of work to get loose; thankfully, no one got hurt. On my next lap, the ATV shifted out of gear and refused to go back in, so I was forced to help push it back the mile home. With all of the running, it is also inevitable that we're getting some sore doggies. Osiris has a tense left shoulder muscle that has required us to give him a few days off; likewise, Oly has had some chafing from his harness that requires a few days rest. Thankfully, it's still the beginning of the season and nothing serious has happened. They're all still crazy about running and it'll only get better once they get to Alaska!
The preparations continue. We have to strap down the sleds tonight and put fresh straw in all the dog boxes. Then, tomorrow morning, they'll hit the road! Au revoir, mes chiens!

Powder Day

Winter in Colorado has officially arrived. A surprise storm hit Saturday morning, dropping 7" of snow on the dogs. I don't know who was more excited, me or the sled dogs. The entire world seemed silent and white. The feeling only intensified when I arrived at my new job at Sunlight Mountain Resort.
Sunlight is a relatively small, family ski area. We have 67 trails and boast the steepest grade in the lower 48. We also have the longest trail in the U.S. at two and a half miles.
None of that really mattered though, when 7" of dry, fluffy powder hit the slopes. As a part of my position at the mountain, I am encouraged to take an hour break every day to ski. I cannot really help guests if I do not know the mountain myself. And so, when ski patrol called in to say they had just opened a new trail, I jumped on the opportunity. In ten minutes I was on the lift and headed to the top. My first Colorado powder experience consisted of first tracks down Rebel Trail with snow up to my knees. It doesn't get much better than that.
The only problem with snow up to my knees is that I don't know how to ski it. I'm used to the sheer ice of Vermont. I may be proud of skiing that ice, but it isn't helping me now. I quickly learned that digging in an edge doesn't really help, nor does lifting your uphill ski. Even with these fallbacks, I was smiling the entire way down. At one point, I hit a rock buried under the snow and fell; that was the softest landing I have ever experienced while skiing. It was most relaxing just laying in the powder and taking in the silent world around me.
This winter is going to be good. Powder good.

The Basics

After all this time, I have yet to go over the basic commands of dogsledding. The commands are subtle and change according to mushers, but they are a key part to the process. Without them, the lead dogs would run where they please, when they please.
I have adopted Bill's language when talking to the dogs. Mushers vary from using short, brusk demands to using baby talk with their dogs. I believe that Bill lies somewhere in between. Off harness, we coddle the dogs. We tell them that we love them and how wonderful they are. I confess that a little baby talk squeezes out every so often, but who hasn't given in to that. As soon as we pull out a harness however, the tone changes to that of business (Side note: the dog's barks change while working as well. There is more excitement and less communication involved in their barks).
One of the first things I say every morning to the runners is "easy". This is Bill's word to get them to calm down. My second word is usually "wait". The dogs have learned that 'easy' and 'wait' mean "please don't bark quite so loud or jump on me or trip me". It is amazing how these words take instant effect on the dogs. For instance, Oly can be very difficult to harness due to his high levels of excitement; as soon as I tell him to "wait", though, he sits patiently until I have hooked him into the lines. 
When all the dogs are harnessed, they start to yelp and lunge forward. We probably don't have to ask this, but it is customary to say, "ready?" As soon as they hear that word, it is as if a whole new pitch to their barking has been discovered. I don't think they've ever said no, so it is always followed by a quick, "let's go". For the next few miles, the dogs could be at a full sprint if they wanted to. It is up to the musher to say "easy" again and to set the pace.
Then there are the famous words: "Haw" and "Gee". These are some of these most important words to a musher. "Haw" translates as 'left' and "Gee" translates as 'right'. Without them, the dogs would run wherever they wanted. It is up to a seasoned runner to understand these words. Most of the dogs have never learned their meaning, as they just follow the leaders; however, the leaders learn from each other to understand the meaning.
Even with these commands, if a leader decides to 'haw' when you want them to 'gee', there's little you can do to stop them. In this situation, all you can say is 'whoa' and run up to the lead dog to walk them towards the proper path. It might take a few tries, but they'll get it eventually.
The rest of the time is taken up with calling their names and giving them praise. Bill is a firm believer in positive reinforcement. He has experienced the differences in dogs when you yell at them versus encouraging them. They want to please the musher and they will work their hardest to accomplish what is asked of them. Whenever you say a dog's name on the line, they will look back with a happy grin.
 These commands are just a small portion of racing a team. Without those words though, it would be impossible. Without the positive encouragement, it would be impossible.
"Haw over! Good dog": it's easy to say, but it means oh so much.

Have to Fit Some Fun In!

And the holiday season is upon us! I didn't think that the busiest time of the year would also apply for the dog yard, but it seems as if I have even more to do. With the racer's departure date quickly closing, the kennel is in full swing. We have intense training sessions, lots of organizing, and all sorts of planning to figure out. Since I only have a few more weeks of freedom, however, I'm trying to get in some fun time as well.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, I went down to Colorado College to visit my friend, Laura. A long weekend away of hockey, pottery lessons, cooking crepes, and tons of laughter was a great way to unwind. A few days after I got back, Laura came up to Glenwood to spend the holidays with me.
Bill and Jodi were kind enough to invite us to have Thanksgiving dinner with them and some of their friends. Everyone contributed different dishes, with Lo and I cooking dinner rolls, beets and sweet potatoes, butternut squash souffle, pumpkin cranberry bread, and chocolate cream pie. Needless to say, my house smelled awesome for days!
The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas took over. I wanted to take advantage of an extra set of hands and get a tree. Colorado doesn't have Christmas Tree Farms like Vermont; instead, I had to go to the Forest Service and get a permit for cutting in designated areas. Laura and I spent an hour tramping through 3 feet of snow looking for a good tree up in Four-Mile Park. We ended up with a short little pine that definitely needed some love. The rest of the night was devoted to decorating and dogs.
And then came Saturday: ski day! As an early Christmas present, Laura bought me a day pass to Breckenridge ski area. Although the powder hasn't quite hit and it's still early in the season, we had a blast. We skied every trail that was open, most of them twice. I can't wait to do this every week. I hope to hit all the big mountains at least once this season, but I'll stick to Sunlight Mountain for the majority of my time. The powder should hit any day!
I also think that I am going to have to start a tradition of going to the Vapor Caves after a long day of skiing. These natural steam rooms are the perfect way to unwind and loosen all those sore muscles. I thought I wouldn't be able to walk after skiing Breck, but the Vapor Caves took away all those aches and pains.
Through all of this fun, it's still crunch time with the dogs. I'm training the puppies more than ever; hopefully, I can start skiing with them in the next few weeks. The dog truck, plow, ATV, and snow mobile are all in the shop. Winter is coming fast and we need to be prepared!  

A Little Difference

Over the past few weeks, Juno has undergone a very dramatic change. She was the shyest dog at the kennel, barely even allowing me to be near her. According to Bill, she used to be very social and excited. Unfortunately, a few years back, a former handler was looking after the dogs while Bill and Jodi were off on vacation. When they returned, Juno was skittish and wary. The handler attributed it to her getting loose for a few hours, but she was so nervous, something else must have happened to her. Needless to say, that handler was asked to leave.
Since then, Juno has remained wary. She shows no aggression; she is just constantly scared with strangers around. It was awful to see her like this and I would frequently spend time with her, trying to get her used to me. When training started, she became a different dog. Any time there was a hint of a harness, she would howl and jump on her barrel. On the line, she would jump up onto me and pant excitedly. When the running was done, however, she would go back to her nervous self. It seemed like she would be nervous forever; and then she got pregnant.

We caught Juno and Lynx on the line. We hoped nothing would come of it, but Bill gave her "morning after" pills anyway. While puppies are always fun, this is not a good time. The yard is full as it is and if Juno had a litter she would not be able to run. Therefore, we waited and hoped. A few weeks later, Juno got fat. Bill instantly took her to the vet where it was confirmed. Since it was still early in the gestation period, the vet began a set of shots to cause an abortion. It was hard to come to this conclusion, but puppies really wouldn't be a good decision for her at the moment. She loves running more than most dogs and she is a top leader for the team; and so, we proceeded with the shots.
For a few days, she was mellow and barely came out of her house. I kept a close eye on her and sat with her while the other dogs were running. Finally, after 3 days, the procedure was finished and she perked up. She really perked up. It was as if the shots made her into a different dog. Now, Juno wags her tail anytime I come into the yard; she barks for me to come give her attention; she rolls over for belly rubs. I asked Bill what made her come around and he said it was the pregnancy. Even being pregnant for that short amount of time has completely changed her. The hormones have affected her as they affect many women- happiness.
While I was sad to have to put her through the abortion and doubly sad not to have a new litter, I am so glad that something wonderful came out of this. This pregnancy has made her a happy dog again. Juno is back. 

Puppy Training

My darling puppies are getting big. Very big. As they grow, training will get more and more intense. They're almost a year old, which means that it's about time that they experienced the team setting. Up to now, training has been relaxed and fun. Mostly, they just ran in circles and played their little tails off. I would take them for walks and wrestle with them. It's important to get them to understand at a young age that humans are fun. They need to associate people with happiness; that way, when I come up the hill with a harness, they'll be excited to see me and do whatever I ask of them. It's also important for them to see the older dogs enjoying running. If the veterans are all excited to run, the puppies will naturally be curious about what the big deal is. 

Whitey in early July, 6 months old

The next step, as with any puppy, is to get them used to a leash. If anyone has ever owned a puppy, you know that first try is always difficult. After months of freedom and romping, being attached to a rope is pretty surprising. Most of my puppies stayed low to the ground, their bellies hitting the ground as they were unsure how to respond. Only Kuka trotted right along next to me like nothing in the world had changed. Unlike other puppies, a sled dog is commended for pulling. That instinct to pull is exactly what you want to see; even if that means that my shoulder is constantly yanked on.
Next, you harness them. Again, they all put their bellies flat to the ground. Each puppy whips their head around to see what I am putting on them. After a few shakes to no avail, they accept it and move on. Niva even strutted a little bit in her red harness. They associate these with the big dogs, the cool dogs. As soon as they're used to the harness, I can hook a leash to the back to act as a tug line. This gets them used to pulling from their hind legs. Inevitably, there were some pretty tangled harnesses and leashes, as some of the pups would rather just jump on me. It will take continuous work to get them used to it and to get them enthusiastic about it. They have to develop more interest in pulling than in me while the harness is on.
If the puppy really excels at pulling with the leash, they can go straight into the team. Today was Whitey's first run with the racers. He was the most interested in running out of the litter and he absolutely worships the big dogs. After the racers ran ten miles, we hooked Whitey up next to Zion. He looked tiny in comparison and instantly rolled on his back with his tail tucked between his legs and his ears flat back. Zion didn't give him the time of day. As soon as we started, he leaped into the air and tried to side step it. It only took him a second to realize he wasn't going anywhere. The journey down the driveway can make or break a puppy. Either they awkwardly shuffle their way down, or they set down their back paws and drag. Thankfully, Whitey was the awkward shuffle. He kept running into Zion and bouncing off; I don't think Zion even noticed.
As soon as we made it to level ground, Whitey took off. He pulled like he had never pulled before. His tail was constantly wagging and he kept looking back at me as if to say, "Hey! Hey! Look at me! I'm running! I'm running with the big dogs!". I swear I have never seen such a huge grin on a dog before. All hesitation left him and he ran full out. The puppies haven't adopted the classic sled dog trot yet; they don't know how to preserve their energy effectively. Instead, Whitey was stretching out to his full length in a goofy lope. Of course, we ran the dogs slower with him in the line, but he just wanted to run faster and faster. For two miles, he wagged that tail and that grin never faltered.

Sled dog Whitey!

We gave him plenty of breaks, but if we stopped for more than five seconds, he started lunging to keep going.  Even when we got back to the house, he was ready to run more. As soon as I reached him to unharness, he jumped up to give me kisses. This is definitely a sled dog. He's a tired puppy, but he now knows what the big deal is.

Injury

As the mileage increases in training, so can the risk of injury. These dogs constantly amaze me, but they are not above the rules of excessive exercise. Thankfully, we have not had any injuries yet, but there are several preventative measures that can be taken now.
For instance, after running, different muscles get sore in different dogs. Bill has recognized throughout the years which dogs need attention and where. Luma is a bit older and can get sore hips; Spur pulls hard and really works his shoulders; Kayenta is all legs and that sometimes works against her. Therefore, I have taken to giving the dogs massages.  If you massage a few minutes after the run, it helps the muscles warm back up. Rubbing the muscles in their sensitive areas will help from future seizing and uncomfortableness. The younger dogs need a lot of work since their muscles are not fully developed. They won't reach their peak growth until 18 months, so until that point they may be more susceptible to injury. Once they are fully grown, they'll learn how to take care of their bodies and use it to their full advantage.

Luma

The types of food we're giving the dogs can also help. At the start of training, we switched to feeding twice a day. The higher intake of calories helps build new muscle. Again, the amount of food is dependent on each dog. More food is given to the dogs that have hound in them, such as Spit, Spur, Zion, and Kayenta, since they burn fat more quickly than the other dogs (they also gain muscle more quickly). The smaller dogs, like Russet and Safina, don't need as much food as they need high protein to build muscle. Therefore, we have recently started supplementing  their dinner. It is no longer just the Red Paw Athletic Dog Kibble; now there are salmon treats, vegetables, and condensed meat in the mix. Around noon each day, we mix about 10 cups of kibble with several cups of the dried salmon and any leftover vegetables we have. The salmon is a treat for the dogs; they can't get enough of the stuff. The really good stuff is the meat though: Pro-Meat 100. It is basically dried meat that comes out like little pellets. Four ounces of this dried meat is equivalent to one pound of fresh meat. It is a great way to get a lot of protein into the dogs. With all this food, it's hard for them not to get fat...so we keep running!
As much as we work to prevent injuries, it is inevitable that it will happen. The Iditarod is an intense race where a lot can go wrong. Thankfully, in my opinion, Bill doesn't believe in pushing the dogs to their breaking point. He truly cares for them and looks out for their best interest. Sasha, in a race a few years ago, was falling behind and just looked tired. Rather than forcing her to continue, Bill took her out of the race. Some dogs just get tired out. Running 125 miles for 8 days is not easy for anyone. Other injuries can be more unexpected. In the Yukon Quest a few years ago, Zion was running the race of his life...until his testicles froze to the ice one night. He was a little hesitant of lying down after that.

Zion

I care so much for each and every dog, I can only hope that they all make it out of the race ok. For now, I can help to prepare them and get them into shape. The rest of the time, it's up to them to tell us when something is not right.     

Mud Puppies

Snowstorm!
I used to get excited about snowstorms...it's at a whole different level now. It is no longer the regular anticipatory excitement regarding an upcoming ski day or snowshoe trip; instead, it is a constant feed of excitement from my dogs. As soon as those first flakes hit, a group howl rises into the storm. From there, the dogs catch snowflakes, roll in the snow, and eat every last bit they can. It is their drug. I can't help but to join in the revelry, even when that snow gets churned into a muddy mess.

Juno

By noon, most of the snow is gone and turned into a mud pit. That is when we decided to run yesterday. It is staying cold enough now (under 40 degrees) that they can run in the afternoon without getting overheated. When the dogs came back for a quick water break, the 6 mile run was apparent. The two lead dogs, Lynx and Attla, were pretty as a picture; the rest of the team had to deal with mud getting kicked back into their faces. Hence, barely recognizable dogs all colored brown. When they stopped for their break, several of the dogs flipped on their backs and rolled in the snow. The snow underneath them quickly became brown as well. Apparently, that's how they stay clean and cool on the trail. They're like little kids jumping in the powder.

After the water break, I got to take the dogs out: solo. Usually, Bill is on the ATV. My friend, Laura, came with me in case of an emergency, but basically I was on my own. I have run 6-8 dog teams before, but running 12 dogs is a whole different story. These dogs have power. They can pull that ATV up the steepest hill without a break in pace. It was nerve wracking, but it was awesome. The first time I called out "Haw"(left), a few of the dogs looked back with their heads tilted. They know me, they know my voice, but I am not the boss. I'm just that sweet girl that gives them food and love. Oly and Osiris kept looking back at me, trying to figure out where Bill was, but they finally shrugged it off and put their energy into running. Now that I've completed my own training, I'll be able to take the racers out more often. The pressure is on!

Chicago

I felt rather privileged this past weekend. I packed my bags and flew for a weekend trip to Chicago. I've never flown anywhere for just the weekend and it seemed a little extravagant. It was certainly worth it though; I got to see my mom.
Mom was already there for a conference, so I came in on Friday to join her for a few days. After an agonizing attempt at reaching the city by train, we finally got the right directions and made it into our hotel. We were located right across from Grant Park; blocks from downtown and beautifully set at the edge of the water. The first night was pretty low key, mostly just catch up time.

On Saturday, we started strong. We went to a breakfast place called Waffles and indulged. I wasn't adventurous enough to try the ribs and waffles, but it was delicious with blackberries. Afterwards, we spent the morning bicycling around Grant and Millenium Parks. The Annual Monster Run was happening along the waterfront, so we stopped to laugh at all the ridiculous costumes. Following that, we went on an Architecture Boat Tour. The tour took us down the Chicago River while explaining the history and significance of many buildings. It was an excellent way to see the city and to get a feel for the history of the town. The buildings were certainly beautiful and gave me a new appreciation for architecture.

That evening, we went to a comedy club. I would go back again and again. The iO comedy club is the founder of longform comedy. The comedians get a suggestion from the audience and expand on the topic creating a play. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. It's intoxicating to sit in a crowd and laugh; definitely something I would like to experience again.

Alas, as Sunday approached, we had to part ways. It was so amazing to be with my mom in Chicago for a few days, but I wish it could have lasted longer. We know how to have fun together and how to really enjoy a place. Until Christmas Mom... 

Bugling in a Snowstorm

Snow in Colorado. Mud in the dog yard.
Since last night, we have had a steady snowfall. However, before temperatures dropped, we had a warm day of rain. Therefore, the dog yard has become a mud pit. Without frozen ground, the snow has been sinking into each dog's spot, making a bowl of red dirt and puddles. I thought that I had been dirty before with dogs jumping on me....that was nothing compared to this morning. The dogs usually curl up in their houses during a storm, but this morning with the prospect of running, they all came out with gusto. Splashing in mud puddles and slipping down hills made sure that I was covered from head to toe in sticky mud. I could have been miserable in the wet, but the snow and dogs just kept me laughing. They all looked so funny, like completely different dogs.
After harnessing the racing dogs, the dogs left behind greeted the quiet snow with a group howl. The darkness seemed to cling to the earth even longer today as the clouds would not give way to the sun. Even the ride on the ATV was peaceful and dark. Snow seems to muffle everything else, make it slower and quieter. It also gives everything a mystical quality; the sagebrush dusted with snow, the fuzzy outline of a mountain through the falling flakes.
The moment became unreal when we pulled the dogs back into the driveway. The sky was just beginning to lighten and the snow was still coming down thick. Off to the left of the driveway, a massive bull elk appeared. He seemed to emerge out of the snow; a great presence in the silent world. Bill turned off the ATV and we sat staring at the beast. The dogs showed no interest, just panted and whined in the cold. The elk stared right back at us with hot breath steaming out of his mouth. Quickly, I counted 14 points on his rack. This was, by far, the largest elk I have seen thus far. After a few more seconds, the elk lifted his head and bugled to the sky. The bugle of a stag elk is eerie.It is a long, high-pitched call into the wind. With that, he turned and ran back into the storm.
For the next hour, I heard a few more bugles, returned by other elk. Perhaps he was protecting his territory or calling to a mate. Either way, I hope that he comes back so it won't be the last time that I see such a prince.    

Best of Friends

I have mentioned several times that my dogs get into fights. Just like humans, they have moments of anger and they tend to snap out at their running partners. However, there is another side that I have yet to discuss. There is a deep bond between the sled dogs, a serious friendship.
These dogs run next to each other, relying on support, warmth, and trust. Not only do the team dogs have to trust their leaders to take them in the right direction, but the leaders have to trust in the team dogs to work hard and stay in line. Without trust, these dogs could be stranded in sub-zero temperatures with a useless human to pull. This trust has given the team a strong sense of camaraderie. They may still lash out, but that is usually because their partner is not doing what they're supposed to. The rest of the time, the dogs grumble or lean against each other.
On the line, you can tell who is especially close.  Spur is a complete cuddler. During a run, he will lick and nuzzle his partner. He is constantly offering affection and support. This affection progresses even more with a young, inexperienced dog; Spur licks them every time they do something right. Oly, his usual partner now, seems to pull harder every time Spur encourages him with a kiss.

Spur

Off the line, the dogs are placed according to their best buds. It just makes more sense to place friends next to each other. The obvious pairing is Zion and Attla. They are not related, nor do they run on the line together; but, they are the best of friends. After breakfast, I usually hear them wrestling and playing with one another. A harsh growl has never been uttered between them.

Attla wants Zion to play

Friends like these abound in the kennel: Rincon and Hudson, Fury and Colfax, Oly and Spit, Sasha and Luma. They love each other.  These dogs may be "man's best friend" at times, but the rest of the time, they are there for the team.

 

Dark

It is a common joke within my family that I do not like the dark. When hiking the Long Trail, we strove to fall asleep before night surrounded us and then woke with the light. At our old house, I would frequently run from the car with vivid imaginings of what might come down from the cliff. Bumps in the night made me pull the covers over my head and strain my ears. I realize that I am supposed to be grown up, but everyone has their moments in the dark. If you think that you haven't, you're lying. There are always shadows around the corner and howls in the darkness.
I blame my fear on my brother; no matter how much he loves me now, he loved to torture me when we were little. Since he has 5 years on me, it was all mental instead of the usual wedgies. One of my least favorite moments in life followed a movie we had watched together. The movie had snipers in it, so of course Sam decided to take advantage of this. He told me to be careful at night and watch out for little red dots, for of course that means a sniper is going to shoot me. Maybe I would have forgotten this if he hadn't gone outside my window that night and shined a laser pointer into my room. This, along with similar events, account for my fear of the dark.
Over the past month, I have had to face my fears. Every morning, I venture out into the dark with a headlamp. I cannot see the dogs with only the stars for light. Their eyes shine every time my headlamp swings in their direction. I can only hope that their barks will scare away anything that comes close. Once the training team heads out and the dogs settle down, silence descends. The early morning dark has become my new favorite thing. The sky lightens slowly, revealing the trees, rocks, and dogs. Everything is still and quiet. This is a friendly darkness, an expectation to a beautiful day. 

Training at dawn

My day ends with darkness in the dog yard as well. With the shortening days, dinner coincides with the sunset. This darkness is enveloping. The trees quickly disappear and the dogs howl to the moon as it becomes darker and darker. Yet, I am still not afraid. Instead of the menacing characters of my imagination, I have come to enjoy the quiet stillness. The dogs have calmed me and allayed any fears.

Eyes...so many eyes

 The dark is now a happy time, so I forgive you big brother. I understand you were only scaring me to make me appreciate the night at a later point in life.

Sometimes They Don't Listen...

I am constantly amazed at the genius of my dogs. They know what you want before you know you want it...and yet, sometimes they don't listen.
Training failures happen. Last week we had an epic failure. Bill and I were both pretty tired after training 6 days in a row; the early mornings can take a toll after a little while. The dogs did not seem to be as affected. In fact, they may have been even more enthusiastic about the run. To begin, the ATV wouldn't start. It does this every now and then just to be mean. Bill decided to jump it, so while he was doing that, I began harnessing dogs. I got through 3 dogs before we realized the ATV really wouldn't start. After ten minutes of fiddling with wires and the deafening roar of dogs telling us to hurry up, we got it started. Then, we had to move around several females because they were all ornery and didn't want to deal with the males.
Finally, I thought we were ready to go. Right as I was about to unhook the leaders, I saw a reflective harness race past me. One of the dogs was loose. Shit. This had never happened to me before, so I panicked and ran after the loose dog. Bad idea. The rest of the team saw me running and followed. Unfortunately for the leaders, who were tied up and couldn't go anywhere, the middle of the team ran right into them. Meanwhile, Bill couldn't see any of this in the pitch black; all he knew was that I ran out of view and the dogs jerked the ATV, with him on it, into a tree and down the ditch.

Rincon, Hudson, Lynx, and Attla

I couldn't find the missing dog, so I ran back up the hill to help untangle the team. There were growls, yelps, and a few sighs, but we got them untangled. They were more than anxious to get going, so Bill took off on the run. As he ran by, I did a quick count of the dogs and saw that Spirit was the one missing. I instantly had horrific visions of Spirit running into the wilderness and meeting a mountain lion or Spirit running out into the road in the path of a car. I knew that Bill would see her on the road if that's were she went, so I settled for searching around the kennel. Two seconds later, I saw her. She was sitting on top of her house, wagging her tail, with her harness still on. Turns out, she chewed through her neck line and snapped her tug line. Jerk.

Jumper and Alameda

After that fiasco, I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Training is not always smooth. It can be scary, maddening, and painful. I have been bumped, bruised, knocked over, tangled, worried, and frustrated. It doesn't matter though, because ten minutes later those dogs come rolling through with goofy grins on their faces and I know everything is alright. As long as I'm still standing and they're still running, everything is alright.    

In the Company of Friends

Excellent week! There's nothing better than beautiful scenery, a few dogs, and some great beer. I give full credit to the excellence to two of my best friends, Kate and Ben. They arrived last Wednesday and spent a few days in Boulder before I could drive over and meet them. From that point on, I don't believe I stopped smiling.
Boulder is a very cool city. It has certainly gotten a lot larger in the past decade, but it still has a nice small city feel to it. Pearl Street does remind me of Church Street in Vermont, it's just bigger. We walked around Pearl Street for a few hours, got some coffee, caught up, then moved on to Glenwood Springs.
It didn't take long before we got out to the dog yard. Kate and Ben are both big fans of dogs and my dogs are pretty big fans of anyone petting them. It's always so much fun introducing new people to the dog yard. People are either surprised at what incredible athletes they are, or they're surprised at how loving they all are. I say that these dogs are always up for some kisses and love, unless they have a harness on, then all they want to do is get to work.

Kate and Ben with Maverick and Pinks

As usual, I reveled in the opportunity to show off my dogs and my town. We went for a hike up Mushroom Rock with Maverick. The red dirt is so different from the landscape of Vermont; I had to bring a biology major up there. After the hike, Ben gave Kate and I some girl time. We went to the spa and vapor caves where we had a very giggly body wrap. It was my first time going into the vapor caves and I think it'll have to become a regular occurrence. They are natural caves within the canyon that steam up just like a sauna. A staircase leads underground, where the humidity instantly rises and the steam hits you like a wave. The caves are dark, quiet, and perfect for a little relaxation.
The following day, I drove them to Denver via the Scenic Byway: Top of the Rockies. We went up over Independence Pass (obviously a favorite of mine) and north to Leadville. Stopping for a picnic lunch of cheese, fruit, and bread in the famous mining town of Leadville, it became the perfect day. But wait, it gets better.

When we got to Denver, we went on a Brew Tour. The tour takes participants to four breweries within downtown Denver. Along the way, we get a walking history of the town and several tastings. This tour was certainly generous in its portions of beer, but none of us were complaining. Colorado is very invested in microbreweries and coming from Vermont, I can appreciate that. We went to Breckenridge Brewery, Falling Rock Brewery, Wynkoop Brewery, and Rock Bottom Brewery. By the end, we were falling out of our chairs laughing; that could have been because of the company more so than the beer. I highly recommend taking the tour, you'll get some good stories and some excellent beer.

I can only hope that future visits will go so well. I have missed my friends from the east coast tremendously and I cannot wait to have them all visit. There's so much to do here, something to appeal to everyone. I promise that if you come visit, we'll have a good time. 

What's in a Name?

I have always believed that naming a dog is extremely personal. There are certain character traits and behaviors that you can only appreciate when you know the dog well. If you pick out a name without really knowing the dog, it can be awful. For instance, there is a tiny terrier at the boarding kennel named Coco Chanel. Now, Coco Chanel has a diamond studded collar and starts to whine if she is not being held every second of every day. This name fits her. That name would absolutely not fit her if she was a sled dog. The other sled dogs would laugh at her and never take her seriously. For a sled dog, you need a name that is strong and easy to say. A name that will strike fear in other racers; not a name like Tiffany, please.

Kayenta: Kayenta, Arizona

Feel free not to read all of these names, but the dogs at the kennel are as follows: Maverick, Pinks, Kramer, Dylan, Qjoa, Sculpin, Sarah, Chena, Alameda, Jumper, Colfax, Fury, Ahab, Niva, Whitey, Big Brown, Chilcoot, Pismo, Russet, Kiana, Juno, Safina, Daikon, Spur, Spirit, Sasha, Luma, Kobuk, Osiris, Kayenta, Zion, Attla, Rincon, Hudson, Spit, Oly, and Lynx.
A few of the dogs were bought later in their lives, so the names just stuck, like Sarah and Dylan. Most of the dogs, however, were bred and named by Bill. Sometimes a litter will have a theme to their names, other times it's just a name that fits. Rincon, Hudson, and Lynx are all brothers and their names fit like a glove. Oly was the only one in his litter, so Bill took the 'n' out of 'only' and voila. Sculpin is a type of trout found in Alaska. Kobuk is a river up by Fairbanks. Spit, Spur, Zion, and Kayenta are all siblings. They were born right after Bill and Jodi took a trip to Zion National Park, so all of their names have meaning within the park. I could go on and on...

Niva: The Latin word for "snow"

All of the dogs have something to link them with their name. They work and the dogs respond to them; they know their names, they love to hear them. Even the other dogs know each others names. If you call a dog's name on the line, their running partner will look back too. The dogs know who you're talking to and they want to know why.
I've started compiling a list of interesting names, including places and geographical phenomena. I'll never know exactly what to name a dog until I get to know them, but I want to have a few favorites in the back of my head for when the time is right. 

Osiris: Egyptian God of the Underworld

Merry Strawmus!

Merry Strawmus everyone! The holiday season has come early! The dogs got straw in their houses and they are happy!
The first snow hit a few days ago and with it, the cold. That means that the dogs get a little extra insulation in their houses. Bill said that they would be excited to see the hay, but I had no idea what I was in for.
First, a layer of wood chips is put on the bottom of their barrels. This helps to soak up any moisture and it gives the straw something to stick to. The dogs acted differently to the wood. The veterans gave it a quick sniff and then turned away. The puppies, however, thought it was the coolest toy I could have ever given them. They each picked out their own personal piece and started trotting it around. I think they were having a competition to see who had the biggest piece of wood. They played fetch with pieces of wood and threw them up in the air triumphantly. If I thought the puppies were adorable with the wood, it got even better with the straw.

The oldest dogs turned into puppies. Maverick was the first to get new bedding; he sat anxiously by me as I arranged the straw in his house. His front paws stomped up and down as he waited impatiently. As soon as I stepped back, he moved into the house, quickly rearranging. He stretched out in the straw, molding it to his body, and pawing it around as needed. When it was just right, he laid down and stuck his head happily at my feet.
A few dogs later, I arrived at Fury. Being the smallest and cutest dog, I had to give her extra straw. She continued to pick straw up in her mouth and shake it with a fury befitting her name. Her house now has a beautiful entrance way covered in straw.
The puppies were the most fun, however. They thought the straw was interesting, but they thought that having me on my knees with my head poking into their house was even better. Every single one of them jumped on top of their house and attacked my hair and neck with some puppy love. Niva even managed to jump onto my back and stand there as I tried to make her a comfortable bed. As ever, I love those puppies.
Over the next few weeks, I'll add in more straw as it inevitably gets dragged out and squashed down. The veterans will paw at it until it's perfect, while the younger dogs will have a straw party. Every time, I am going to fall over laughing at the little present I can give them.

Dad Visits!

Finally! I got to show off Colorado to my dad! He was able to fly in for two days and we took full advantage of his time here.
On his first day, Colorado decided to downpour. It never rains in the morning here. Usually, we'll get a storm in the afternoon for about ten minutes, but that is about the extent of our precipitation. Nevertheless, it was raining and hard. Since he arrived in the dark, there was no chance to see the view from my house and the rain didn't help the next morning. With that disappointment, we decided to go explore town anyway. We drove through Glenwood Springs and Glenwood Canyon. I showed him my usual spots and we did a few errands before heading into Carbondale. A small, hippy little town, Carbondale has become a favorite of mine. With the rain giving a brief interlude, we walked around the towna nd stopped in some galleries. At the Forest Rangers Station, we got the suggestion to go check out the towns of Redstone and Marble. They're only about 20 miles outside of Carbondale through canyons and rugged valleys.
After about 10 minutes of driving and a steady climb into the mountains, we hit snow. It came fast through the canyon, the wind throwing it against the trees. All of a sudden, Colorado went from a warm, peaceful fall to a pounding winter. I loved it. As we climbed higher, the snow began sticking to the ground and the Aspens. When the sun finally popped out, it was breathtaking. Everything was dusted in the sparkling snowflakes. The golden foliage was especially bright against the white. After that storm, our only option was to go home and have some wine and cheese on the front porch. Dad took me out to the nicest restaurant in town and then we passed out to save up energy for training the next morning.
We certainly needed that energy. When I walked out of the house, everything sparkled. My headlamp waved over frozen branches and fluffy dogs. Even better, all of the lines and clips were frozen solid. I cannot say we impressed dad with our efficient harnessing yesterday. The dogs were over exuberant from the first snow, so they were struggling against us; the clips had to be warmed up before we could attach the harnesses; and the ATV wouldn't start from the sudden temperature plummet. We did not look good. Nevertheless, when we did get the dogs out running, we went ten miles, faster than we ever have before. They were flying in the cold. I swear the dogs smiled when they saw their breathe in the air.

Snow at the kennel!

After training, we took another long drive. This time up into Independence Pass. At 12,095 feet, the pass got hit hard with half a foot of snow. It was beautiful as ever and really fun to drive. After the pass, we went into Aspen where we paid an outrageous amount for coffee and looked in the windows of really expensive stores. Wanting to spend more time exploring, we drove out to the Maroon Bells. I had no idea these mountains were so close to me, so I was excited to go check them out. They are the iconic image of Colorado. Any postcards or tourist info have a picture of these peaks. They are dramatic, rugged mountains in a quiet valley. The whole area is protected with great hiking trails, so it's an excellent destination. We ended up going for a 3.6 mile hike to a lake at the base of the mountains. I did my ultimate no-no and hiked in jeans, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for a little fun. The snow got slippery and deep near the end, but I managed to drag my poor dad all the way up.

The Maroon Bells

I love the excuse a visitor gives me to explore. Being with my dad allowed me to show off the things I was most proud of and the things I'd really been wanting to see. Glenwood Springs has been voted America's #1 Fun Town, so there's always a lot to do. I just need more excuses to show it off! 

Critter Surge

When I was dogsledding this past winter through St. Mike's Wilderness Program, the mushers talked about something called a "critter surge". When their dogs spotted a rabbit or deer, they would get a burst of energy and rush after it. This usually left the musher dragging as they stomped on the brake and would result in a massive tangle of lines. They spoke of this with dread, but also as a fact of life. They have not met my dogs.
These sled dogs laugh in the face of rabbits; they turn their heads at the sight of deer. Anything that gets in their way of a good run is unnecessary and meaningless. Almost every morning, without fail, a little rabbit will hop into our path as we ride down the driveway. The dogs do not break stride or even sniff in its direction. There is no time for rabbits when one could be pulling an ATV!
Yesterday morning, three deer ran right in front of us. Two doe and a massive stag, who paused briefly to stare at the dogs. There was no barking, no change of speed, just the leaders pulling straight ahead. I was amazed at their lack of interest. I've never known a dog to just ignore a perfectly tasty looking deer. With Lynx and Attla leading the way, however, everyone else just wanted to run. These dogs mean business.

There is one exception to this rule: Moose. Dogs do not like moose. Big moose, little moose, albino moose, dead moose. The long-legged, big-antlered beasts do something to incite wrath in all dogs. I can attest to this, as even my childhood dog seemed to have something against the animals. Daisy was a fat little mutt, whose many talents included pissing my father off and eating astronomical amounts. One day, my brother and I were sitting in our basement room, when a huge flash of brown zipped past the window followed by a much smaller flash.We looked out and saw Daisy nipping at the heels of a bull moose. The gumption this dog must have had to take on an animal 20 times her size. She chased that thing all the way down the driveway and out of sight. A few moments later, she came tearing back up the driveway with ears flying as she frantically looked over her shoulder. The moose must have realized the idiocy of this little dog and turned on her. I have no doubt that Daisy would have chased another moose if the opportunity arose.
If your leaders are really good, they can keep the rest of the team away from moose. Bill says that in a race,  they'll usually just speed up on the trail. Maybe it's the scent or maybe it's just because they're so huge, but something about moose gets the dogs excited. Everything else barely registers in comparison to their need to run.

Sopris

Mount Sopris: elevation- 12,950 feet...terrain-scree fields...weather-hail...Fun!

View of Sopris from the trail to Thomas Lakes

 
This past weekend I hiked Mount Sopris with my friend, Laura. I wake up every morning with a view of the mountain and ever since arriving in Colorado, I swore I would hike it. Since the cold is fast approaching, this past weekend seemed like the best option. We could not have had better timing. All of the Aspens are painted gold, the temperature for hiking is perfect, and the sun is still shining every day.
We headed out late Friday afternoon. It's possible to summit in one day, but you have to start ridiculously early to get to the top before noon; otherwise, there's a good chance you'll get stuck in a storm in the afternoon. Therefore, Laura and I decided to camp out for the night at Thomas Lakes. The hike in was uneventful; the majority of our time was spent adjusting our packs. The last time we had been backpacking together was when we hiked the Long Trail, so of course we had to reminisce during the 3.5 miles in. The two lakes are sheltered by the mountain, making a quiet retreat for a good night's camp. Laura and I found a campsite next to the bigger lake, surrounded by Aspens and with a great view of the summit. Arriving to the campsite at 5pm, there wasn't much to do other than eat a relaxed dinner by the lake and set up camp.

Dinner by Thomas Lakes

There was only one other person staying at the campsite and they were set far away from us, but I was happy they were there. The week before we set out there had been several sightings of mountain lions in the area. A small dog had been killed a few nights before our hike, but everyone I talked to had been very reassuring in that the cats wouldn't attack. Nevertheless, I was worried and on guard. Two pretty girls all alone in the woods might look tasty to a big cat. We didn't see any signs of mountain lions, but I'm sure they knew we were there.
 As dark fell over our campsite, we fell into our sleeping bags. Laura and I are notorious for going to bed early on the trail and we did not fail that expectation this time around. Of course, this just allowed us to get a long, peaceful sleep in before waking up at 6am to start hiking. We weaved our way through the Aspens by headlamp to filter water and break down camp. Then it was up the mountain!
It's only 3 miles to the summit from the lakes, but it is some of the toughest terrain I've ever handled. For the first half-mile, we were still under tree line and walking easily on switchbacks. However, the pines quickly get far and few between before giving way completely to scree fields. For the next 2 miles, we hiked over small rocks that easily gave out to rock slides on a knife edge ridge. The advantage to these scree fields is that 1) you get amazing views all the way to the summit and 2) it gives you and excuse to move at a glacial pace. Laura and I were careful with every step, as the rocks were an excellent way to ruin already tentative ankles. Plus, the incline was ridiculous. The ridge we climbed seemed as if it went straight up. Combined with the gaining altitude, this hike was just not fair.
As usual though, I was impressed by our attitudes. Not once did we get distraught or think of turning back. We were going to climb this mountain, slow and steady as we always do. We chatted up the guys who passed us, laughing after they got out of earshot that they were kicking our asses. It has never mattered to Lo or I that we do a hike as fast as possible; we hike it because we love it. We hike to find excellent sitting rocks so we can enjoy the view and have a little snack. We hike to feel the accomplishment of reaching the top and having nowhere else to go but down. And so, we hike it slow.
Reaching the summit at 10:30am, we bundled up against the cold at 12,950 feet. Sopris is the highest thing around, so we got panoramic views of the Roaring Fork Valley and the Maroon Bells- Snowmass Wilderness. Snow piled in drifts in the shaded crags of the mountain and avalanche paths were clearly marked in the scree. It felt good to be that high. I could definitely feel the altitude; the last stretch of mountain was a struggle to breathe. Sopris is the highest mountain I have ever climbed; I am so ready for a Fourteener now.

Views of the Roaring Fork Valley from the summit

A few minutes into our climb down, a hail storm hit. Nothing serious, just a "dippin dot shower" as a fellow climber said. With slippery rocks to now negotiate, the climb down was nerve racking, but joyful. By the time we got down to the lakes, the sun was back out and we strapped on our packs once again to head out.
After hiking 13 miles, we came off the trail. Now, whenever I go out to take care of the dogs, I see Sopris and smile. Next time I do it, I'm bringing my dogs...

Heat

For those under 18: stop reading.

Everyone else: sorry if you deem this inappropriate, but sex is part of the kennel. A big part of the kennel. Females in heat, males too distracted to run straight, and all the problems it causes. It is a constant concern and nuisance for the handlers, but it is almost as exciting to the dogs as running (maybe more so).
Right now, the entire kennel has gone insane. More than half of the females are in heat. The females that are not, will be within the week; at least, they are acting that way. When a female is in heat, she has two options. Either, she'll sit right down and growl at any male who looks her way (my favorites tend to do that), or she'll stick her butt right in their direction (excuse my blunt language). In reaction to this, the males in the kennel have stopped eating. The females have got them all so distracted, they cannot think or eat or run.
The only option is to wait it out. Females stay in heat for about 3 weeks. The second week is the craziest and the most optimal time for breeding. Since female dogs only come into heat every six months, the dogs only get two chances a year to breed. We are not breeding anyone this time around, we have enough young dogs as it is (I'm secretly hoping for puppies anyway).
The most problematic thing right now is training with the dogs. I had noted earlier that females have a hard time running together because they tend to fight. Now, however, we do not have an option. We cannot run males with females. We have already had issues with males trying to stop mid-run to check out a female; other males get all tangled in the lines trying to reach a female. Even when we stopped for a water break yesterday, the two lead dogs, Juno and Lynx, got a little more action than we would have hoped for. Therefore, the line up for the team is completely different. Males with males and females with females. I have to watch the lines carefully, waiting for fights or males to get a little too close. It is definitely high tension right now.
The other problem is in the future. Like I said, females come into heat every six months. Right now, that timing coincides directly with the Iditarod. If the females are in heat during the race, it could be disastrous. Many good racers have had to pull out because their dogs could not handle it. We can only cross our fingers at this point that it will work out.
For the next few weeks, I will have to force feed the males and discourage the females from teasing. Hopefully a dog won't get loose and hopefully we can keep training without too many distractions. Three weeks of heat and then it's back to normal... 

Golden Trees and Black Bears

 I did not want to go back to work today. The long weekend was a perfect little vacation. Before leaving Colorado Springs yesterday, Laura and I got in a nice 2 mile hike with sweeping views of town and the Rockies. The most exciting part of the hike happened on the way home: a little black head popped out of the brush on our right. The head was followed by the body of a young black bear, who then proceeded to run across our path to join up with his brother and mom. We watched them for awhile, munching away on leaves. They could not have cared less that we were only a few yards from them. All they were concerned about was stocking up on munchies for the winter.

The drive home last night was excellent. I hit Independence Pass just as the sun was going down, so I got a beautiful twilight drive through the Aspens and rocks. There had to be at least 50 professional photographers lined up along the road trying to catch the perfect light through the trees. The golden leaves really lit up with the sun at such a steep angle. I'm hoping to make it back up there a few more times before the pass closes at the end of October.

When I rolled into the driveway, it was pitch black, but my dogs welcomed me with open barks. They were even more excited when we went running this morning. Each morning, we get faster and faster harnessing. I even harnessed Zion all on my own today! It was a very great personal accomplishment. They ran beautifully today. Everyone was matched well, so the strides just hit right. We ran 8 miles in the quickest time yet. From here on out, we'll just keep going further and faster.

Fall Foliage

Fall in Colorado is magnificent. Down in Glenwood Springs, the trees are just beginning to change. It is not the usual orange and reds of the maple trees, but the fiery gold of aspen. The low brush around Glenwood isn't the best option for foliage, but I luckily had a trip planned to Colorado Springs this weekend. Driving up through Independence Pass, I understand the attraction to Aspen. At 8,000 feet, all of the trees have turned. They have created a sea of gold crawling up mountainsides and plunging into valleys. Every now and then, a pop of red appears on an unknown plant. The rest of the drive through Independence Pass is full of beautiful rock outcroppings and low tundra plants. No matter how many times I drive through the pass, I have to stop and take advantage of the gorgeous views.

Once down in Colorado Springs, I was instantly immersed in college life again. My friend, Laura, is in her senior year at Colorado College. We had a wonderful dinner last night with her roommates and then I got the pleasure of meeting all of her friends. I had forgotten how much fun college is. Well maybe I hadn't forgotten as much as missed it dreadfully, so I'd blocked it out. I'll be making the trek to Colorado Springs more often to experience college again.
Today, we're heading out to a brunch and then possibly a hike. I get to enjoy the pass once more before heading home to my dogs and kittens. A weekend away is always appreciated, but I do miss my dogs. I'm wondering if they all ate ok and if anyone is feeling neglected without me. I'll be sure to give them all a hug in the morning before we run.

Wheel Dogs

Wheel dogs are the power-pullers closest to the sled. Traditionally, they are the biggest, strongest dogs. In Jack London's Call of the Wild, Buck is a Wheel Dog. A force to be reckoned with and a strong puller. Usually, Malamutes are used as Wheel Dogs. They're the big, fluffy version of a husky. A lot of freight sleds used Malamutes to pull across the tundra. However, Wheel dogs are not necessarily known for their speed. On a traditional sled, the fastest dogs are harnessed up front, while the closer they get to the sled, the slower the dogs. This makes sense since the big, strong dogs tend to be slower. It's hard to get 100 pounds moving quickly while pulling 800 pounds.
In the past few decades, however, this has changed. The biggest dogs are no longer placed near the sled. In racing situations, you want speed and agility. When taking corners, the lead dogs swing wide, but by the time the wheel dogs hit a corner, they're in the brush. It requires an agile dog to leap over stumps and sprint through branches without getting tangled with the sled. The large dogs cannot move quick enough and, hence, have been moved to the middle of the team.
This placement for the large dogs is also beneficial in that it distributes the weight throughout the line. In the middle, they can pull smoothly and forcefully. Even more, several mushers set their pace to their biggest dogs. Since your team is only as good as the weakest link, the big dogs have to be excellent athletes to keep up with speeders like lead dogs. By placing the big dogs in the middle, it can keep the rest of the team at an even pace, so everyone stays happy and healthy.

Zion

Osiris

Our big dogs are Zion and Osiris. They are BIG dogs. When they stand on me, their front legs bend at the elbow over my shoulders. They have serious power when they're running. Bill has to frequently tell them to take it easy or else they'll get burned out. These dogs would sprint solo with the 4-wheeler if we let them. They have no concept of too fast or too hard, they just want to go. Maybe someday, I'll see what happens if I let them go....I'll probably end up dragging for 100 miles.

Similarities and Comparisons

Currently, I am working part-time at a boarding kennel. As if I didn't have enough dog time already! It strikes me every day how completely different these dogs are from my kennel. The boarding dogs are lap dogs, attention hogs, and wimps. Don't get me wrong, I love these dogs too. There's nothing wrong with a Golden Retriever laying it's head in your lap or a Great Dane attempting to stretch out in your lap. They're undeniably seeking love; my dogs are undeniably seeking a run. The sled dogs enjoy attention and love, but they enjoy pulling a sled more.
The other thing I've been noticing at the boarding kennel is the similarities between dog and owner. Several of the dogs have very quirky personalities that are explained as soon as the owner walks in. For instance, Boodle is a Bichon-Frise and Poodle mix (original name, I know) that strongly dislikes getting an inch of fur covered in dirt. Boodle yaps at anything that comes near her and prefers laying in the sun. Boodle's mom is a socialite, complete with expensive sunglasses and curly hair to match her dog. Boodle's paws do not touch the ground when mom is around. And then there is Boschi. A mutt that can unlock any gate and open any door. This dog is cool. Boschi's dad always seems to wear tan and black to match his dog; he could also probably unlock any gate and open any door.
Dogs and owners just seem to fit together. They laugh together, play together, and comfort each other. It only makes sense that they would end up looking and acting like each other. It makes me wonder who I am most similar to in the kennel. I try to spend as much time as possible with each individual dog, but there are always favorites. I think I am a little like Alameda. She sits patiently atop her house until I get in range. Then she pounces with kisses, constantly jumping up and down until I pay attention to her. She seems to love love more than any of the other dogs. I suppose I'm guilty of that as well; I love giving her love. Then again, I can see Daikon and I fitting together as well. She doesn't get quite as excited as Alameda, but if I don't hurry up, she'll start throwing out little woofs to let me know she's impatient. Daikon loves being on the sled, but then again, Daikon loves sleeping. She's very true to me in that respect.

Daikon

Alameda

As I get to know the dogs even better, more personality traits pop up that coincide with my own. I guess I'll have to pick all 37 dogs to fit with me. Not surprisingly, I think I've started looking like them... Covered in fur, dirt on the hands, and a permanent smile.